Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, July 11: A delegation of Kashmiri Pandits led by M.L. Malla, Senior Vice President, All India Kashmiri Samaj, called on Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh at his North Block office here today and sought his intervention to ensure safety of the community members living in the Kashmir Valley, in the wake of the situation following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani.
In a memorandum submitted to Dr Jitendra Singh, the delegation alleged that, at a time when the demand for the return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits to Kashmir was gaining momentum and the Central and State Governments seemed serious to address this demand, such large scale violence at this juncture, appears to be orchestrated by separatists and radical elements supported by Pakistan, with a motive to put the issue once again on the backburner. They also alleged that, notwithstanding the public posturing by separatists, the truth is that they do not want the Kashmiri Pandits to return to the Valley.
Dr Jitendra Singh assured the members of delegation that the Union Government, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Security agencies are taking every possible steps to ensure absolute security and protection of Kashmiri Pandits living in the Valley. He said that the moment he received the report of stonepelting in the initial phase of the current episode, he immediately got in touch with the security authorities and thereafter, extra deployment of forces was also carried out for their protection. The Additional Director General of CRPF, Srivastava reached Srinagar on Saturday itself to obtain a direct assessment of the situation, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, he has discussed the issue in detail with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and the concerned officials. While a few of them had moved out, in panic, from the Camp to another destination, he said, by and large, the members of Kashmiri Pandit community were staying back where they were.
It is a joint responsibility of both the State and the society to ensure the safety of minorities in the Valley, said Dr Jitendra Singh and added that there will be no compromise on this.
Prominent among the members of delegation were Dr Tej K. Tikoo, Pajan, Sanjay Sapru, Vinod Fotedar and Raj Nehru.
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